Wetland Walks and More Comets

 The last few days it seems that I have been keeping an eye open for insects.  There is a lot out there if one wants to get serious!

On Monday, I went down to Hillman Marsh for a long walk. A Limpkin could be lurking (or limping?) around for all anyone knows!  I found nothing special, but at least the sun was out during this time.

Heron types are always around.

Great Egret

Black-crowned Night-heron

Some insects:

Red Admiral

Least Skipper

Eastern Amberwing (male)

Eastern Amberwing (female)

Blue Dasher

Skimming Bluet

On the way home, I stopped by the bluff at the end of Zion Road, but did not have the luck I did last time.  One gets a spectacular view of the shoreline.

A road was here once!

The next day, I went to Mitchell's Bay first thing.  It is interesting to watch the lake, as Great Egrets keep going back and forth.  Difficult to say how many are out there.  One of these days, perhaps a Snowy Egret will show up.....(I did seen one many years ago!).

Lots of bluets along the trail of which most were Tule.

Orange Bluet

After this walk, I was at a loss where to go, but decided to give Wardsville Woods one more try.  Once again, very few odonates, let alone butterflies.  

Swamp Milkweed beetles

I caught sight of one clubtail (the ONLY one of this visit).  I have learned to take a quick record shot of things right away, and it was a good thing I did on this one.  Honestly, I did not know what species it was at the time, but I did realize it seemed different.  It took off in short order never to be seen again.

At home on the computer screen, I was shocked to see that it was a Riverine Clubtail!  A rare species for the area.  It was just last year that some were discovered here as a first for Middlesex County.

That made my day when it was difficult for finding much.

I then drove through Skunk's Misery.  Even though it was a perfect day, there were practically no butterflies.  Just as well the butterfly count was cancelled on Sunday (due to weather).  Numbers would have been extremely low in any event.

I continued on, and stopped by the boat launch at the old bridge site off Mosside Line.  This spot has been productive in the past, but water levels were high due to the crazy amount of rain.

Several Stream Bluets and some Blue-fronted Dancers were present.  Add a couple Blue-tipped to the mix.  A couple of clubtails went by, and also a Royal River Cruiser.

Blue-tipped Dancer

Shetland was not far down the road so I stopped there as well.  River was running very high, and practically no odes.  They must have drowned!  I did see one Blue-ringed Dancer among very few other things.

Before getting home, I went for a long walk at Reid CA.  Needless to say, not a single hairstreak.

Today, I wanted to get into Elgin County.  First stop was the Storey Wetland at John E. Pearce P.P.  Actually there were quite a few odes; common things of course. I have seen Comet Darner here in the past, but not today.

Twelve-spotted Skimmer

Viceroy

This Common Yellowthroat posed quite nicely for a photo at one point.  Obviously feeding fledglings.

Next stop was Fingal WMA.  I always go to the Ian Carmichael pond area.  Lots of Spot-winged Gliders were here, but difficult to photograph since they were on the wing.

LOL

Not far up the road is Southwold Earthworks which I always pay a visit.  Many years ago I had a bonanza of butterflies here, but little since!

One thing of note here, all the Beech trees are dead or dying.  Not a good sign.

Here is a photo of one from past years.

I noticed one Azure Bluet in the grass at one point.

Heading back west, I walked through Joe's Bush NW of New Glasgow.  Hooded and Pine Warblers are of note here.  They were singing, but remained unseen.

One more stop for the day was the old quarry at Clear Creek.  I did not spend a lot of time here, but saw the usual bluets or dancers.  Skimming Bluet was different from the last visit, but I messed up the photos.  As well, pretty sure I had Slender Bluet.

Violet Dancer

Comet Darners were flying, and I saw at least two.  Seems they are a bit early this year, or I am just getting lucky compared to the previous years.

Ojibway butterfly count is this Saturday, followed by Rondeau on Sunday.  I will likely skip Rondeau this year since the last few years there have been progressively fewer and fewer butterflies. Given circumstances this year, probably not worth my while!

More Tourin' But No Horsin' Around

 I did quite a bit of touring around the last couple of days  since I just need to be outdoors!  Friday I started at Keith McLean C. L.  Not much to see, but we are now in the midst of fall migration (argh!).  The only "southbound" shorebird was a Lesser Yellowlegs.

I headed east as far as Fingal WMA for a brief look, then to nearby Southwold Earthworks on Iona Road.  For whatever reason, I like this place, as I remember going there with my father when I a tad younger.  In the past, I have found it good for butterflies as long as the grass is not cut.  Unfortunately, it had just been cut!

However, there were some things to see such as several Hickory Hairstreaks.

Moving on, I headed west to John E. Pearce P. P. and walked the Storey Wetland.  Not as many odes as I would like, but there were a few butterflies including lots of Banded Hairstreaks and some Hickory, and other things.

Next stop was another favourite, Wardsville Woods. I like it for the leps and odes.  I started off with a Striped Hairstreak on the laneway.

Some odes included Midland Clubtail, Common Whitetail and Black-shouldered Spiny-leg among others.

One had me intrigued, but I thought it was just a Midland Clubtail.  However, it does suggest Cobra Clubtail, an uncommon species.  I never looked at the face though, which would be the clincher!  I am not familiar with Cobra Clubtail, so I did not know what to look for. Now I do, lol.

Nearby Skunk's Misery was the next attraction.  I just checked out my favourite trail on Sassafras Road where the hairstreaks are.  There were still lots!  Another Striped was also here.

Farther down the trail, I found some milkweed that seemed to be quite attractive to leps.

Also here was a LeConte's Haploa moth.

Today, I had no clue where to go, but did want to get up to Reid and McKeough later.  To waste some time, I went down to St. Clair NWA for a walk.  Not much to see there anymore as it is grown in so much compared to the "old" days and phragmites along the trail is a problem.

Along the way I saw several heron types along "Heron" Line.

I then worked my way up to Bear Creek Marsh, a unit of SCNWA.  Nothing of note there.

After a stop at the workplace in Port Lambton, it was time to head over to McKeough.  Two Dickcissels were still singing at the aforementioned spot on Holt Line.

There were surprisingly few insects to see at McKeough, much to my disappointment.  I did see the one Pronghorn Clubtail.

Over at Reid, I spent quite a bit of time there.  Still lots of hairstreaks, and I did find one last Oak Hairstreak.

I was hoping to see Dukes' Skippers, but they have not shown yet.

Several Northern Broken-Dash and Dun Skippers are out.

Odes included a male and female Slaty Skimmer.

male

I got on one Royal River Cruiser which posed nicely.

A remaining Racket-tailed Emerald caught my eye.

Moch Emerald should be out now, so I will keep an eye out for them.

The summer is quickly passing, so take advantage of every day, and no horsin' around!

Black Horsefly

More Running Around!

Friday I decided to go to Point Pelee.  As usual, I started at the Tip, but did not get there as early as in the past.  This time of year there are too many "tourists" that HAVE to go to the very Tip, oblivious of the birds they are scaring off. Luckily, I did have some time to myself at first.

A few Sanderlings were working the Tip, and eventually a Lesser Yellowlegs landed.  Eight more Lessers flew by towards Pelee Island.

I walked back west beach trail in hopes of seeing some insects.  Once again, very few.  One can only savour the memories of the "good ole days"!
I did see my FOY American Snout.

Wandering Glider

I decided to check out the marsh boardwalk before leaving. Black Terns had a good nesting year, as I counted over 60 birds.

Next stop was Hillman Marsh.  I walked around the shorebird cell looking for butterflies, which of course were scarce.  Checking one familiar spot, I came across about ten Broad-winged Skippers, which were FOY.

Some Common Painted-Lady were along the way.

I shuffled over to Blenheim Lagoons on the way home, but nothing of note was there.


Today, it was a toss-up, but I ended up in Elgin County.  I went as far as Port Stanley Lagoons.  Water is very high, so few shorebirds. Only two Lesser Yellowlegs and a Wilson's Snipe were seen besides Killdeer and Spotted Sandpiper.  Wood Ducks were there by the dozens.

Heading back, I stopped by Southwold Earthworks, which I always check out while in the area.  A number of years ago I had all kinds of butterflies there, but it has been downhill ever since!  (Probably the big year of 2012).
Today was overcast and damp, so practically nothing.  I did find a Common Sootywing though.

Farther west, I checked out Joe's Bush on Silver Clay Line. 

Besides too many mosquitoes some notable birds included Pine Warblers and a Hooded Warbler.  The Hooded was a bit of a surprise.

Joe's Truck

My main goal today was to stop by the old quarry at Clear Creek Nature Reserve and look for Comet Darner. 

Last year, I discovered them there, so I knew they had to be out.  Sure enough upon arrival, I saw one.  I could only attempt flight shots, but made out fairly well.

Two in upper left

Eventually I saw two.  Comet Darners are rare but annual in various places in southern Ontario.  The bright red abdomen sticks out!

Comet and Calico

There were lots of dragonflies to look at here.  Calico Pennants are very common.

Skimmer with Twelve Spots

Blue Dasher

This afternoon I did a quick check of Reid and McKeough CA's.  Due to the heat I did not linger long.  I did see a couple of Dukes' Skippers at Reid and several Banded Hairstreaks.

A couple of Royal River Cruisers were patrolling as well.

At McKeough I was targeting Flag-tailed Spinyleg.  With the high water, there is no edge to the river this year where they like to perch.  I kept a keen eye as I walked along, but at the very end, I finally came across one!

Pronghorn Clubtails are regular here, but I have not yet seen one here this year.
By this time, the heat had done me in, so I went home!

By the way, National Moth Week is upon us.  I usually see only common stuff  in my travels.  Here are some from today.

Large Lace Border

Celery Looper

Spring Dead Leaf Roller

The above creature is very tiny.  It was on the back door today!